Moved back to Scotland 5 years ago and finally retired 4 years ago. A difficult transition ? In some ways, but what surprised me is how busy one can be when there is no longer that business about a JOB interfering with your life ! Life on a Scottish island can be a bit bleak in Midwinter but now that we are past the Equinox again, things are looking brighter.

5yrs and a month for us also. Was pretty happy here, no real desire to go to Oz again but now we our daughter, happy to wherever is best for long term. Not real sure I'd like to go back to Oz, not real sure I'd like to get old(er) in the UK either. But age and visas mean only Oz, NZ or the EU is open to us, oh and Korea

I live in the main town on the island. Within 400 meters of my flat I have library, shops, health centre and ferry terminal. Nice gardens and parks, including the front which is just a stroll away If I need the big city, Glasgow is only 2 hours away by ferry and train. I hardly ever go there now.

Lots of nice gentle walks for the dog. A bus run to one of the nice beaches at the north end of the island - using my Bus Pass. Dogs go free.

I live a car-free life. Local supermarket will deliver orders over £25. Living without a car is for me liberating.

The island has, like all the islands in Scotland, its own character. Since its development as a Victorian holiday resort it had had many incomers, from Scotland and elsewhere. English accents are not unusual among the residents. For its size it has a rich cultural life, especially in winter. Next month we have the Jazz Festival. there are other music events through the year.

I live in the main town on the island. Within 400 meters of my flat I have library, shops, health centre and ferry terminal. Nice gardens and parks, including the front which is just a stroll away If I need the big city, Glasgow is only 2 hours away by ferry and train. I hardly ever go there now.

Lots of nice gentle walks for the dog. A bus run to one of the nice beaches at the north end of the island - using my Bus Pass. Dogs go free.

I live a car-free life. Local supermarket will deliver orders over £25. Living without a car is for me liberating.

The island has, like all the islands in Scotland, its own character. Since its development as a Victorian holiday resort it had had many incomers, from Scotland and elsewhere. English accents are not unusual among the residents. For its size it has a rich cultural life, especially in winter. Next month we have the Jazz Festival. there are other music events through the year.

Some areas of Scotland - islands and isolated rural areas - have problems with population loss. Bute is one of these. As a result our Housing Associations here have too many houses ! Over on the mainland there are places where there is a 15-year wait for "social housing". Not here !

Some areas of Scotland - islands and isolated rural areas - have problems with population loss. Bute is one of these. As a result our Housing Associations here have too many houses ! Over on the mainland there are places where there is a 15-year wait for "social housing". Not here !

I'm sure the island is great at this time of the year and you can't put a price on fresh air.

I get a steady trickle of inquiries from people thinking of returning to the UK and looking for affordable housing. Some have come and then realised that living on an island - especially in winter - can be a challenge !

Car-free ! Think positive. It is not about "getting by" without a car !!. It is about enjoying life without one of those ghastly Fordian devices with an internal combustion engine. Trains for me. Alas the island tramway closed in 1937 !